On the Gobi Desert in Zhangye, Gansu, hundreds of meters high wind turbines rotate in the wind, and the core technology of these "big windmills" is actually the same as that of speeding high-speed trains. In 2026, CRRC China will launch two major "national heavy vehicles" - the world's fastest high-speed rail CR450 high-speed train and the 20 MW offshore wind turbine "Qihang". The former will undergo comprehensive operational assessment and design optimization, while the latter, as the world's largest floating offshore wind turbine, will complete various tests and finalize its design.

Wind power is the 'high-speed rail that stands up'

Wind turbines can be seen as a 'standing high-speed railway'. The process and principle of wind power generation are exactly the same as those of high-speed rail electric braking. China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) has rapidly emerged in the field of wind power equipment by utilizing an 800 kW "railway locomotive AC motor" test platform to match and complete the factory and type tests of a 660 kW "wind turbine", and transplanting its design and operation experience of "high-altitude locomotives" to develop "high-altitude wind turbines".

The cultivation of new businesses based on technology homology effectively reduces research and development uncertainty and industrialization risks, enabling new businesses to have high technological maturity and engineering feasibility at the initial stage, "said a person in charge of CRRC China.

Small parts create a big market

In China CRRC, there are two small products that are truly "hidden champions". One is the wind power IGBT module, which is a power semiconductor chip. Relying on existing high-speed rail technology, CRRC IGBT's market share in the wind power market continues to rise. The other is the ring groove rivet, which was originally only a type of fastener used for railway vehicles. China CRRC uses this product to provide maintenance free fastening connection solutions for more than 80% of wind turbine nacelles and towers worldwide, with a domestic market share of 100%.

There are many such 'hidden champions', and the components of rail transit can also shine in the field of wind power equipment. The two complement each other and continuously promote product iteration and upgrading.

New industry revenue accounts for over 35%

By transplanting the reliability design system, engineering experience, precision manufacturing technology, and quality assurance capabilities accumulated in the high-speed rail field to the wind power industry, CRRC China has quickly broken through the core technology of wind power systems and provided high-performance, long-life high-quality wind power equipment to the market.

This development approach of using chains to drive new business and using new to promote chain not only reduces the entry cost of new businesses, but also promotes a positive interaction between the main business and new businesses, "said a person in charge of CRRC China. China CRRC is extending its layout in the field of clean energy equipment from wind power to industries such as electric vehicles, energy storage, photovoltaics, and hydrogen energy.

By 2025, the revenue of China CRRC's new industry sector will exceed 86.3 billion yuan, accounting for over 35% of the total revenue. The "second curve" continues to grow and expand, providing replicable successful experiences for the transformation and upgrading of central enterprises.Editor/Yang Meiling